I have reported and edited on a wide array of topics, from far-right movements to food history, and love to get to grips with new beats. However, I have a particular interest in solutions-focused public policy and social affairs stories.
I've been published in five major UK newspapers (The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Evening Standard, The Independent, The i), edited and reported for two leading current affairs magazines (Newsweek and Prospect), and served as the editor of Apolitical, a platform for public servants, where I ran a team of staff and freelance journalists.
I have an MA in journalism (Distinction) from City University London, which included extensive training in UK media law.
To discuss commissioning me or booking me for shifts, email me on joshualowefreelance@gmail.com.
From 2018-2020 I was editor of Apolitical, a learning platform for public servants in 170+ countries.
In this period I ran a team of journalists and worked on hundreds of articles about global policy and government on a wide range of subjects, from refugees and migration to organisational theory.
As an editor my work included reworking pitches and copy at speed both at the sentence level and the concept level, implementing an SEO strategy, running a roster of freelancers, running editorial meetings and planning all coverage. I have worked with a range of formats including long and short features, news stories, listicles and explainers.
Editing work occupied most of my time, but writing of my own that I published there included:
This long read on the economic redevelopment of Bradford, Britain's youngest city.
This report from Japan on the country's world-leading "compact city" strategy.
This interview with a former Amazon executive turned digital government pioneer.
This piece, written as part of an Apolitical project but published in UK national newspaper The i, on parental leave policy.
I covered Britain and Europe for Newsweek from 2016-2018, diving into a turbulent period for the continent's politics and making sense of it for an international audience of 30million+ readers. I also launched, co-presented and co-produced Newsweek’s international podcast, Newsweek’s Foreign Service.
Some of my writing that was published there included:
This feature on food culture and immigration in London after Brexit.
This feature for the U.S. print edition on Britain's polish community after Brexit.
This report from Athens on Greek preparations for a crucial round of bailout negotiations.
This feature on the fulfilment of Germany’s battle for gay marriage.
At Prospect Magazine, I covered British politics and policy, including reporting from the parliamentary press gallery, and also commissioned and edited writing across the website.
Some of my writing that was published there included:
This long read for the print magazine into Britain's turbulent relationship with maths education and contemporary reforms aimed at improving results.
This interview with Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, published as part of our 2015 election coverage.
This feature on parliamentary meditation classes for British MPs.